Stalk-cutter.



No. 783,674. 7 PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. 'l. J. BRADLEY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 6. 1904.

Attorney Patented February 28, 1905.

Nirnn STATES PATENT UFFICE.

THOMAS J. BRADLEY, OF M'ICMPl-HS, 'Iil lNNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ON E- HALFTO FREDERICK L. SCIHVANTZ, 0F MEWPHIS, TENNESSEE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,674, dated February28, 1905.

Appiieatien iiled December 6, 1904. Serial No. 235,726.

To all whom 111'; many concern:

Be it known that l THOMAS J. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and use- :ful improvements in Stalk-Cutters;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked.thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stalk choppersor cutters; and the object of the invention to produce a simple andefficient device of this character especially adapted for cuttingcotton-stalks, and comprises a triangular -outlined frame havingdraw-cutting knives along the marginal edges thereof and in theprovision of a vertically-adjustable guide member whereby the apparatusmay be held from lateral movement while being drawn forward.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction andin combination and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter:fully described and then specilically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, withthe letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisapplication, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicatelike parts in the views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved stalk-cutting apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection through the apparatus, the parts being shown in elevation; andFig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A andA designate two draw-bars of the apparatus, which are set atinclinations to each other and pivotally connected together at theirforward ends by means of a plate a.

U designates a double cutting-blade, which is secured to the under sideof each of said draw-bars by means of bolts U, or other snitablefastening meansmay be substituted for the bolts, if desired, Saidcuttii'ig-lmives are fastened to the d raw-bars so that the cuttingedges of the frame will project a sufficient distance beyond the outerfaces of said bars to effectually cut stalks which come in corn tactwith said blades. In order to allow for the adjustment of said draw-bars, whereby the same may be drawn apart or near together, 1provide the bars .1) and l), which are pivotally connected at theirouter ends, respecti vel y, to said bars A and A. A central longitudinalbar It is positioned intermediate the bars A and A and projects beyondthe ends of the latter. Said bar E is secured to the plate It by meansof bolts E, and the bar l5 carries two bolts F and F,the former of whichpasses through an elongated slot 11 in the bar 1), while the bolt Fpasses through a similar slot (Z in the bar 1.), and winged nuts f arelitted to the ends of said bolts F and F, whereby the bars may be heldin adjusted positions with reference to each other.

In order to guide the apparatus in a straight forward course and preventlateral movement in the event of more pressure being brought to bearupon one blade than upon the other, I provide an adjustable guidemember, (designated in the drawings by letter K and shown clearly inelevation in Fig. 2 of the drawings.) Said guide member has its forwardend upwardly turned, as at K, said upturned portion passing through aslot w in the end of the bar E and being provided with series ofapertures N, in which a clevis may be adjustably held to regulate thedraft of the apparatus. The forward angled end of said guide member K ispivotally connected to bracket-arms E by means of a pin E, whichbracket-arms are fastened to the bar E. The rear portion of said memberis bent at an angle and provided with series of apertures 0, said rearangled end extending up through a slot E", and braeket-arms Q arefastened, by means of bolts Q, to the rear end of the bar E, and theupper ends of said arms Q carrying a bolt R, which is adapted to passthrough registering apertures in said bracketarms and aperture in therear upturned end of the member K. A winged nut R is fitted on the boltR and isadapted to hold said member in an adjusted position, whereby thesame may be held at different heights to meet various conditions underwhich the apparatus may be used-as, for instance, varying conditions inthe soil, height of stalks, &c.

From the foregoing it will be observed that by the provision of mystalk-cutting apparatus a simple and efficient means is provided wherebythe stalks may be eflectually cut by the knife imparting a draw out tothe stalk, and by the provision of an adjustable guide member theapparatus will be held in a straightforward course,although the pressuremay be unequal upon one side or the other incident to one or more rowsbeing cut by the two blades.

While I have shown a particular form of apparatus illustrating myinvention, it will be understood that I may vary the detailedconstruction of the same, if desired, without in any way departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A stalk-cutting apparatus comprising draw-bars adjustably heldtogether, cuttingblades secured thereto and projectingfrom the edges ofsaid bars, a central stationary bar, a guide member having its forwardend upturned, and provided with a series'of apertures and pivotallyconnected to said central bar, the rear end of said bar being angled andapertured, and projecting up through a slot in said central bar,bracket-arms secured to said central bar, a bolt supported by said arms,and adapted to engage an aperture in the rearangled end of said member,and a nut fitted to said bolt, as set forth.

2. A stalk-cutting apparatus comprising two draw-bars, a cutting-bladesecured to each of said bars and means for adjusting said bars, a plateconnecting the forward ends of said bars, a central bar to which saidplate is secured, the forward end of said central bar being slotted, aguide member having its ends bent upwardly and apertured, bracket-armssecured to the forwardly-projecting end of said central bar, a pin forconnecting the forward end of said member to said arms, the rear end ofsaid member projecting through a slot in said central bar, bracket-armssecured to the rear end of the central bar, and an adj Listing-screwcarried thereby and engaging the portion of said guide member whichextends through the slot at the rear end of said central bar, and draftmeans secured to the forward end of said member, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence oftwowitnesses.

' THOMAS J. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

A. L. HOUGH, FRANKLIN H. HOUGH.

